Ulster Rugby vs Munster

RIP AXEL

Les Kiss worked with Anthony Foley during their respective backroom stints with the Ireland squad and they formed a very close friendship… "It's a hard thing to sink in. Axel Foley, a legend of Munster and Irish rugby. A good friend and great coach. I loved working with him and to think I'm not going to see him again is surreal. I still can't believe it. He was absolutely capable of having a future coaching in the Ireland set up, he was in it for the long term and wanted to make a fundamental difference to Irish rugby. “He was a very talented coach, I worked with him as a forwards and as a defence coach and he knew the game inside out. He

Sports journalist Rod Nawn watched on along with the rest of us when the devastating news of Anthony Foley’s untimely passing came through the airwaves… “The epitome of Munster grit and heft, Anthony Foley, passed away in Paris before his team were due to face Racing 92 two weekends ago. ‘Axel’, who wore the red jersey of his Province over 200 times, who captained the side to its first Heineken Cup win in 2006, and who had inevitably morphed into the Head Coach’s role at Thomond Park. “An unforgiving and formidable opponent, he was the steel which bound the Irish pack for a decade, on over

60 occasions, but Foley was respected in a

coached the game like he played it, in an uncompromising manner and with a demand on his forwards - it was a privilege working with him. “I was always aware of his stature within the game, but when bad things happen, people always reflect and take a

hugely deep way across the rugby and sporting world. Tyrone Howe was Sky Sports’ studio guest for Ulster’s match and suddenly it was to him that the heart- breaking task of responding to the news from Paris fell.

ANTHONY FOLEY 1973 - 2016 closer look at someone. The service that he has given to Munster Rugby in particular and to Irish Rugby is without question, unbelievable. The stature of the man was fantastic, you don’t win Heineken Cups and lead from the front and not have that special something about you.

“They’d been team-mates in green, ferocious opponents in white and red, but bound by a mutual respect for each other and their characters. Howe did many fabled things on the wing for Ulster and Ireland but never has he represented his Province and his sport more splendidly than when, with such eloquent humanity - and battling back tears - he told the audience of the humorous, generous family man who’d suddenly, senselessly been taken at just 42 years of age. “On BBC Radio Ulster Jim Neilly broke the devastating news from Paris, and then Gavin Andrews and his studio guests paid their respects with a wonderfully articulate conviction

“The fact that he was willing to invest further into the game upon his retirement from playing, and help the next generation of young men come through the ranks, is an honourable quality. My time coaching with him was special and I will miss him.” Les Kiss Ulster Rugby Director of Rugby

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